5 Random Thoughts in Advance of US-Canada

1. At last night’s open training session, a few players really stood out. It was a low-key practice and performance tonight against Canada will mean much more, but players seem to be pushing hard to impress the coaches before qualifying begins. All three ‘keepers made some pretty ridiculous saves to the applause of many of the fans in attendance. Eddie Johnson finished well throughout the practice and Josh Gatt caught the eye of a couple of media members with his tenacity and skill.

2. Last week, the Wall Street Journal wrote an article quoting Jurgen Klinsmann about Clint Dempsey that caught the ire of some US Soccer fans. The German said: “[Dempsey] hasn’t made s—. You play for Fulham? Yeah, so? Show me you can play for a Champions League team, and then you start on a Champions League team,” Klinsmann says. “There is always another level. If you one day reach the highest level then you’ve got to confirm it, every year.”

After having two coaches that were more reserved with the media to say the least, Klinsmann’s honesty is both refreshing and a little frightening as it may upset the apple cart. Has Landon Donovan’s “hiatus” with the national team been due in some part to any animosity between Klinsmann and Donovan? Regardless of the German’s frankness with the media, the message to always push yourself to a higher level or to improve is resonating in the camp much to chagrin of Dynamo fans.

“He’s always pushing everyone to get to the next level,” says Will Bruin. “Play quicker or take your game to the next level and never be content with where you are and I think that’s a good mindset.”

3. While Jurgen Klinsmann sparked a little controversy with the above comments about Dempsey, there is no doubt the positive effect he is having on the crop of forwards in camp who each spoke highly of their manager.

“It’s a dream come true – especially as a forward,” noted Chris Wondolowski. “To have one of the best ever to play at your position, who could ask for anything more?”

Will Bruin echoed Wondolowski’s sentiment, “he preaches that if you miss a chance, don’t dwell on it,” said Bruin. “You may only get one or two chances at the international level, but if you think about the one that you missed, you may screw up the next one.”

4. Ticket Sales Slow – Whether the final tally will be 12,000 or 14,000, it seems evident that despite this being the first US National Team game in Houston in several years, ticket sales are less than one would have hoped. Several excuses like it is a Tuesday night against a weaker opponent without the full team have already been mentioned. Advertising has been non-existent up until last week when the numbers were apparently coming in too low. In an article discussing attendance for the match, Steve Davis noted that average attendance is usually in the range of 13,000 for these January matches. Can Houston hit the 13,000 mark or will the poor ticket sales for this match impact Houston’s ability to get additional US games in the future?

5. As one of the original Dynamo players who moved from San Jose, Chris Wondolowski can appreciate the venue at BBVA Compass Stadium a little better than most. Wondolowski’s Earthquakes missed out on a trip to Houston last year in MLS so last night’s training session was Wondo’s first time at the new stadium.

“It’s my first time here and I am loving it,” said Wondolowski. “This is amazing and it gives me chills because I really do know the blood, sweat, and tears that went into it. So many people had such a big hand in it and it’s a beautiful venue and I can’t wait until tomorrow.”

After training, Wondolowski with his Houston ties was as heavily a sought after autograph as the three Dynamo players in attendance. Can Wondo capitalize on the local support to strong-arm his place into the future for the US Team or will Eddie Johnson or Will Bruin keep Wondolowski at bay?